Santa Cruz Island Reserve

08 Dec, 04 AM - 15 Dec, 07 AM

I propose to initiate two pilot experiments to explore the direct and indirect effects of U. littoralis on this native ecosystem. I will 1) use descriptive and experimental studies to investigate how island foxes impact the distribution and recruitment success of native plants, and 2) initiate germination trials to study the interactive effects of U. littoralis and an elevation gradient on plant dispersal and fitness. Data from these initial experiments will allow me to identify focal plant species for future study. I will define focal species as those plants most commonly dispersed by island foxes, and therefore the most likely to have their fitness mediated by the presence of foxes. To this end, I will collect fox dung along 25-35 0.5-km transects on Santa Cruz Island. These transects will span the elevation gradient of Santa Cruz Island. I will record microhabitat data and species composition in the 1m x 1m area surrounding each dung sample. I will also record locations of each dung sample for future reference and potential geospatial analysis. I will conduct transects both on and 50-100m off trails to ask if foxes prefer moving along paths, and, if so, how this may affect plant community composition. Fox dung will be collected for both dissection, as well as future germination trials. These germination trials would occur on the UC Davis campus. I will use these trials to quantify both the percentage of plant matter content in each dung sample, as well as presence and quantity of seeds of different plant species.

Visit #34441 @Santa Cruz Island Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 28399 | Research

Multiple pathways of ecosystem regulation by the island fox, Urocyon littoralis

graduate_student - University of California, Davis

Reservation Members(s)

Grace Charles Dec 8 - 15, 2013 (8 days)
Curt Nehrkorn Dec 14 - 15, 2013 (2 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Regular Bunkroom 1 Dec 14 - 15, 2013
Dock to Reserve Round-Trip 1 Dec 14 - 15, 2013
Regular Bunkroom 1 Dec 8 - 15, 2013
Dock to Reserve Round-Trip 1 Dec 8 - 15, 2013